Means for preventing shingling in product containers having curved sides

ABSTRACT

A method of preventing curved-side containers on a conveyor belt of a commercial filling line from slipping across and past the curved surface of the forward container by providing a small flat area on opposing sides of the containers and positioning the containers in the filling line to cause the flat areas on one container to register with the flat areas on adjacent containers in the line, and a product container having curved sides with wider shoulders tapering to a narrower base, with a small flat area on each side of the container at the widest point on the container shoulders.

[0001] This invention relates to a means for preventing shingling of product containers having curved sides by providing a flat surface on the container sides to inhibit relative lateral movement of containers in a fill line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Containers are manufactured to hold a variety of products. A common variety of product container is generally rectangular in appearance with wider front and back surfaces and narrower sides. On a commercial basis, containers are commonly filled with product in an automated process. In the production plant, empty product containers are loaded side to side on a moving conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is provided with guide rails to help maintain the alignment of the containers and keep the containers from falling off the belt. At certain points during the production process, such as when the containers are being filled, the automated filing process causes the containers to move slower than the conveyor belt. At these points, a slight backup of containers is created on the conveyor belt as the rear containers press against the more forward containers. As the containers push against each other, they make side-to-side contact. Where the containers have flat sides extending the length of the container, the sides of the containers provide a flat surface against which the container can press, and, during normal operation, the containers do not slip past one another.

[0003] It is sometimes desirable to use product containers with curved sides to improve the appearance of the product container. A problem arises when product containers having curved sides are placed on a standard commercial filling line. When the containers reach a slower point on the production line, and the rear containers press against the more forward containers, there is no common flat surface for the containers to press against. Instead of the flat side of the rear container pushing against the flat side of the more forward container, the curved surface of the rear container slips across and past the curved surface of the forward container. Such misalignment of containers is referred to as “shingling.” The shingling disrupts the alignment of the production line causing problems with fill, capping, and other automated procedures which require alignment of the product containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The product container of the present invention provides a means for preventing shingling of product containers which are ovoid in cross section, having curved sides and wider shoulders tapering to a narrower base by providing a small, flattened area on the otherwise curved surface of the container sides. It is an object of this invention to provide a means for preventing container shingling without altering the curved appearance of the container sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the product container of the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a front view of the product container of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a side view of the product container of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0008] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the product container 1 of the present invention has convex front surface 10, convex rear surface 20, and convex sides 30. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, product container 1 is ovoid in cross section having a wider ovoid shoulder area which tapers down to a narrower ovoid base. It will be noted that sides 30 are identical in shape and size. The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, has wider shoulder area 31 and tapered bottom region 32. A dispenser pump 40 is shown in phantom, but is not part of the invention, and any type closure device may be used with the product container of the present invention.

[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a flattened region 50 is located on each of sides 30 at the widest point of wider shoulder area 31 so that when product containers made according to the present invention are aligned in a side to side relationship, the flattened regions 50 of adjacent containers are in contact. The area of flattened region 50 should be minimized so as to avoid interfering with the curved appearance of product container 1. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, flattened region 50 is incorporated into the product container without substantially altering the curved appearance of the container and is substantially unrecognizable by consumers.

[0010] Region 50 provides an area of positive contact between adjacent product containers moving down a production conveyer belt. When processing of the product container is slower than the movement of the conveyor belt, the flattened region of the rear container presses against the flattened region of the more forward container. Due to the area of positive contact created by the flattened regions, the more forward container does not slide past the container to the rear and shingling is prevented.

[0011] While it is desirable to make region 50 as small as possible in order to maintain the curved appearance of the sides of product container 1, region 50 must be of a size to provide for sufficient positive contact between adjacent product containers. In order to preserve the curved appearance of the sides of product container 1 and also provide adequate surface area for contact between adjacent product containers, it is preferred that flattened region 50 be about 0.62 inch by 0.25 inch in size. In testing, it was observed that the provision of a flattened area as described in this application substantially prevented shingling of ovoid containers as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

[0012] The containers above described are employed in a method of preventing shingling on the filling line by curved side containers. The steps are providing a small flat area on opposing sides of the containers and positioning the containers in the filling line to cause the flat areas on one container to register with the flat areas on adjacent containers in the line. 

The subject matter claimed is:
 1. A product container having curved sides with wider shoulders tapering to a narrower base, said shoulders having at their widest point a small, flat area on each side of the container.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein said container is ovoid in cross section.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein the flat areas are a shaved portion on each side of the shoulders.
 4. The container of claim 1 wherein said flat areas are each about 0.62 inch by 0.25 inch in size.
 5. A method of preventing shingling on the filling line by curved-side containers comprising the steps of providing a small flat area on opposing sides of the containers and positioning the containers in the filling line to cause the flat areas on one container to register with the flat areas on adjacent containers in the line.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the containers are ovoid in cross-section throughout.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the sides are tapered and the flat areas are at the widest part of the container.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the containers have wider shoulders tapering to a narrower base and the flat areas are provided at the widest part of the shoulders.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the flat areas so provided are a shaved portion on each side of the shoulders.
 10. The method of claim 5 wherein the flat areas on said containers are each about 0.62 inch by 0.25 inch in size. 